Difference Between Sandals and Flip Flops

Which is Best - Sandals or flip-flops?

When summertime comes knocking, many people are looking forward to not only the warm weather but also to the change of clothing. With this seasonal change, individuals will put away their regular , closed and warm shoes and switch to a pair of  gladiator sandals or flip-flops.

This open footwear may feel more comfortable when you put them on and it can help your feet to stay cool during the warmer days; however; most wearers do not know that sandals can be bad for both your feet and legs.

Before you rock out youropen footwear to clean and get ready for the sunny days, consider what you are doing to your feet. According to  Clearwater Chiropractor, there are a few things that you need to know.

Open Feet

Sandals and flip flops are great for protecting your feet on stones or anything that may hurt when you step on it, yet wearers are still limited to the amount of protection over their whole foot. Flip-flops and sandals can be less than ideal footwear is due to the limited amount of protection that they provide the wearer’s feet.

With a regular pair of shoes, the wearer’s feet get better protection from the possibility of injury. You would definitely not want to go our trekking or running through fields where the sides of your feet can get scratched by sticks and stones.

Little Support

Supporting the foot is where flip-flops and sandals can really cause problems for an individual. A person who chooses to wear sandals or flip-flops will not have the benefits of sufficient arch support. In addition to this, most types of sandals don’t offer any cushioning in the heel and they have limited abilities when it comes to shock absorption. This lack of support can cause a high amount of foot pain for the wearer if they choose to wear sandals or flip-flops everyday.

Flip-flops and sandals do very little to support your feet, and they also provide inadequate support for your delicate ankles. It is possible to find some pairs of sandals do have some limited ankle support, but flip-flops provide none at all. Since this style of footwear provides limited ankle support at best, the wearer is likely to suffer from a twisted or sprained ankle at a higher probability. ON top of that, proper ankle support is necessary to take some of the strain off of your legs when you are walking. This additional strain can lead to soreness in the ankles, knees, hips and lower back.

When Is a Good Time to Wear Them?

Now that we have run through the cons, let’s check out the benefits of wearing these shoes. Of course, we all know that these are perfect when chilling at home or relaxing at the beach or by a pool - they can work well. However, wearing them for extended periods of time or trying to use them as a walking shoe is discouraged. They simply don’t have the features that are needed for long periods of use or for taking long walks.

If you are going to go with one or the other, buying a well-built pair of sandals is better than wearing flip-flops. Some sandals do incorporate at least some supportive features to make them more comfortable and practical. The key to maintaining healthy feet if you are a sandal wearer is to use them sparingly and not to use them for any activity that is overly stressful on the feet or legs.

Social Taboos

Everywhere is different, but in general society has established that there are times when you should and should not wear sandals and flip flops. It is true that at work, depending on the type of office you work in which nowadays can be a lot less formal, wearing flip flops and sandals is accepted - especially if you work in a warm country where the beach is right next door. However, there is an general etiquette that is expected from people.

Places You Can Wear Flip-Flops & Sandals

• On a beach.
• To a pool.
• In the shower
  
  

Places You Cannot Wear Flip-Flops

• Your office.
• The bank.
• Bars, be they dive, artisanal, or anything in between.
• Any vaguely metropolitan sidewalk.
• Country roads, regardless of dust level.
• All restaurants, even the kind where you have to order at a counter and take your food to a table you selectyourself.
• Outdoor concerts.
• Indoor concerts.
• On a date.
• Wherever a suit is required.
• The above includes your friend's wedding. (At beach weddings, a sandal—which is different from a flip-flop—will do. But that's another post for another day.)
• At a funeral. Or really at any event that takes place in a house of worship.
• Jury duty.
• Alimony hearings.
• In fact, anything that takes place in a courthouse or in the presence of a lawyer.
• Rest-stop bathrooms.
• Any public bathroom.
• Grocery stores.
• Galas of all descriptions.
• New York City. Scratch that, any city.
• Literally anywhere else.